Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
My Reeves Electro Etched Edition Darlington Flyer Dual-Natured Fuzz has Landed!
I think only 10 of these were made - it’s funny how it sometimes is an advantage to wait out a pedal release - as frequenly a subsequent . later edition / variant tends to be better looking than the original. I’ve learned that for some brands it’s better to wait things out - like Beetronics - as later editions almost always turn out to be prettier than the original take.
With Reeves Electro the dynamic is often quite different as very limited numbers are available - so there it is frequently about being quick off the mark - if you want to secure an original edition - with the rarest of components.
I’m very happy that I waited out for this one - as it’s the prettiest take on that pedal to date - where the enclosure treatment is the same etched process as Markus’ mainline point-to-point releases. And this design worked exceptionally well with that method for some really crisp lines - the new variant looks more subtle and sophisticated than the original.
Note that the Darlington Flyer is Reeves Electros’ most successful pedal by sales - and it beautifully represents that somewhat visceral bolder Reeves Electro sound!
For this version - the inside is painted a gorgeous almost Prussian blue, where the outside is simply and elegantly 3D etched - in place of the sort of royal blue colourway artwork of the original. I’ve included a picture of the original for reference / contrast.
The contents of the pedals are almost identical - with the first transistor being the same Motorola MPSA13, while the second transistor is changed to a circa 70's (production ended in 1982) Philips BC546 Silver-Face one - which has been selected to deliver the same kind of sound as the Micro Electronics ME4003 in the original. There are some subtle differences, but the concept is overall identical with near identical values.
Controls - EQ / Voicing : FAT Controller / Narrow Gauge (Skinny), Master Volume (Fixed Fuzz / Gain), Transistor : Darlington Flyer / Bipolar Junction.
The original text had the following note :
"One is a 1979 Motorola MPSA013 Darlington - for smooth, compressed sustain, the other an early 70’s Micro Electronics ME4003 - for a much more open, gritty and slightly gated feel."
As mentioned - in my edition the ME4003 is replaced by a NOS Philips Silver-Face BC546 with sounds just as good!
With just those 3 controls - central knob and 2 x 2-Way toggle-switches - this is one of the simplest fuzzes you will encounter - but its dual nature delivers versatile output.
For my own preferences I much prefer the first switch in the Fat Controller Up position and the second switch in the Down Bipolar Junction mode, the gated Darlington Flyer (Up switch) sounds decent too - with the volume adjusted upwards. I still prefer both of those Transistors on the Fat Controller Setting - the Narrow Gauge feels somewhat insubstantial compared to the other setting - I always prefer my fuzzes to be somewhat bold and searing - and this Darlington Flyer Fuzz is beautifully calibrated. Perfect Settings are Fat Controller, Bipolar Juntion, and the main dial @ 3 o'c.
This was the original Daughterboard Series pedal - which gave that range a really strong start - I've been meaning to get one of these for quite a while - and this was obviously the right moment for me. I believe the price was the same - @ £259, while only 10 of this particular iteration are currently in existence!
You can read up further details on the Reeves Electro Website, while you wait for the next batch to be announced! These are all small batch releases typically
As these 2 editions sound nigh identical - I've mostly referenced the original demos for sound sample purposes! I think there was also a pink edition of the Darlington - and perhaps one other. Will be interesting to see which edition is next - whether Markus and Izzy decide to extend or preserve a particular colourway - I say the more the merrier.
This is already the most popular Reeves Electro pedal - the public have spoken - and you all need one of these too!
Demos
